Something for Summer Grace~

 

 

We have another little girl coming into our world in early August. Her shower is this week so I made another little dress.
This is my version of Simplicity 3509 ..  I basically used the pattern for the main body for the front and back and the sleeves.   Then I kind of constructed it as I saw it in my mind.. I used the medium or large size in order to have enough room to do french seams, pin tucks,pleats and a decent size hem.

 

 ~neckline and front details… the fit is loose and the dress can be adjusted with the ribbons at the sleeves and the neckline with  gingham ribbon. 

  ~ I love love love the picot crochet edging.

  

    ~ my pin tucks are much better on this dress.. I am much happier with these.

   ~back view of the dress, it is just as pretty to me as the front.

   

 ~matching bloomers and crocheted Mary Janes…. seriously cute, I LOVE these little Mary Jane’s!  I used a pattern from this book. I did my own version of the strap and finishing. It took a few times to figure it out my way because the way the book does it just did not do it for me. I am much happier now.

  ~ little bloomer’s!

   ~ a little bonnet just to complete the outfit. 

I can not help but to think this little girl will look like an angel.  I have had so much fun sewing these dresses.  It is my version of  heirloom sewing.. just a baby step into that arena.   It has inspired me to learn much more about this art form.  I only wish I could have started this when my girls were much younger.

Isn’t that the way it goes, who has the time then?  I really don’t have time now, but it is funny what you make time for when your motivated and inspired.  I am always looking for new ways to create, it does a body good!   We have no shortage of babies at my work, and I am hoping for a niece or nephew one day….

The boys….. and some good news!

Missy has gone home from the vet, we are all so happy for her!!  Thank you Lord for a little more time..

 

Now,  for some cute!!

The gray kitty we were calling Annabelle has been renamed Sam, so we have Sam and Tiger.   The boys!

We are really enjoying them, they do everything together and it is just adorable!

Prayer’s for Missy….

  Prayer’s for my sister’s dog are needed.  She is the pretty dog on the right.. She has been very ill.  She is a sweet and loving dog. 

 We pray for her body to heal and to recover from the pain and the strength to fight off the infection… We pray for her to be able to return home where she will be loved and cared for by the ones who love her most.

  We pray for you Missy and we love you…

Something for Emerson…

A little girl is soon to be born, a little party for her is being planned for later in the week.  With this in mind I made this~  (weird lighting)

I am pretty pleased with this little dress..    

Not sure what is up with the lighting!!

  I started out with Simplicity dress pattern 3509 , I used the dress and sleeve portion of the pattern. From there, I went out on my own. Honestly I hated hated this pattern, and I hated the yoke. I don’t know what the deal is, but I could not get it. Which is fine because I intended to change it up anyway. I gathered the neckline in attempts to make more of a squared neckline. That went ok, I added the pin tucks. Love that.   I added the entredeux to neckline and each sleeve.  I did a picot crochet trim on each sleeve. I really love picot.     For the neckline I did another trim from Samantha of The Handmade Dress.. (love her work, very very inspiring.) I added the pink ribbon, back pleats and a dainty little button with a crochet closure just to ensure there is a way to adjust the fit.

 I used my Dritz hem makerfor the hem, and what a difference that was. Perfect hem.   I also made the matching diaper cover-up thingy ~  ~ I really love the pink seersucker fabric I used.  I couldn’t help but to put a touch of embroidery on the center chest. A bonnet and booties are in the works..

  I think I am overall ok to give this gift. I see a lot of places that are not perfect. I am still on a steep learning curve. However, I will try not to be too critical and harsh of my work.   It was made with warm thoughts and so many well wishes for a new little being yet to live her little life.  Sometimes you just have to relax and let it be…   Right?

 

Ok, but I think I need to do a little something on the top of the tucks… that  little area is making me crazy… maybe embroidered x’s ? going across the top of the pin tucks?   Yes, yes, must let it go…?

New Little Ones and some more “Heirloom Sewing”

  A peek at my attempts at Heirloom Sewing….

   But first, our new little additions to the family, brother and sister kittens ~ about 8 weeks old.. poised and still trying to get a handle on their new family….pensive and a little timid..

   Annabelle getting sleepy…

   Tiger with very sleepy eyes…They are adorable, very energetic, independent, and playful (when not asleep)..    They are very connected to each other and spend a lot of time playing together and sleeping curled up together…  It was so lonely without Kitty, we decided to try to honor his memory with some new little ones who surely need a warm and safe home..

Now some sewing….

my attempts at Heirloom Sewing continue.   I am just trying out some techniques, my pin tucks are not so good.   I broke down and got a new foot, next time should be much better.  I also need to use a better quality fabric… same with the entredeux.. 

I do love the picot crochet trim.  I guess I should break down and use a real pattern as well.  This is loosely based on a baby day-gown, with ribbon weaved through the trim to adjust the neckline and arms.  If I only had a little on to try on and see about the sizing.   I am totally winging it on that one.  

The only thing left to do is the hem and the finishing touches.  I love the embroidered flowers, I used a thicker DMC all cotton thread for the embroidery, which I really like. 
Martha Pullen’s French Sewing by machine is on the way to me, so I can only say I have a lot of room for improvement, but it is very enjoyable so far.  It is a true test of patience, this is not a fast process. 

  That is one area I can certainly improve on… patience.

Sewing for baby~

There are a lot of babies soon to be born, in our family and a lot of friends as well. So, with this in mind I am trying out a few different things. The first topic being an area that I have wanted to get back into for a long time…. The Handmade Dress’ Samantha  did a lovely post on the topic of Heirloom Sewing.   Just look at her photo’s, her work is exquisite.  I know when my first daughter was little I took a class at a local sewing shop, on smocking.. at the time I just did not have the time and patience to stick with it.   Now that I am older, ahem, well, I am back interested… especially after reading this blog! 

Here is my little ode to heirloom with a bonnet made from cotton sateen, entredeux, and a finely crocheted shell edge. I spent time with this book for inspiration..

 

  Please note that spot appears to be on my lens, I had to go and do a double check on that, but no it is the lens thankfully!

  ~little birdy applique with some embroidery..

  There are so many different post’s on the applique, I have no idea where or when I saw this.. but it is made from a lovely flannel called Nursery Time, appliqued with wonder under and then zig zagged around. On a baby kimono shirt..

     All babies need burp cloth’s… I used Juliette’s tutorial  the only change I did was not use the birdseye diaper, mine was the premium 6ply super absorbant diaper, it had the thicker middle.. and it seems as if I did see this made with that kind of diaper, but I can not remember for the life of me where. However~ with this is what I came up with.. I am just loving that fabric..

 

More to do, but this is what occupied my time over the weekend.   Hope yours was all that you wanted it to be..

seriously….

this is so cute!  Love this dress!

One more time…. one more giveaway and more link love~

If you have a little girl look  at this…. it is so so cute!  Grosgrain is at it again! Good luck!

Lot’s of little baby girls on the way at my work, thinking of  this ~ talk about cute!! Here is a cute little shoe pattern that totally makes the outfit…

If your little girl is a little bigger then here a bigger version of the dress.

On one more note, I found this so inspiring… I am crazy about this quilt.. seriously! I love it and I don’t want it to get too far from my mind. So, I am linking it for future reference.

 

What’s on your mind?

A little bit of fresh…..

Currently this little view into my bathroom is making me so happy!  I just freshened this room up a few days ago by changing my curtains to the white cotton tab curtains,  new little sink skirt,  and a cleaned up dresser top with a little lamp.  A few simple changes are all it takes to freshen up a room…

 

My old fashioned sink… it is difficult yet charming..

but I love the little sink skirt.. it just makes it look a little more polished..

I am on a crochet kick, so there you go with the washcloth’s..

 note to self: get cute soap dispenser.. seriously that is out of whack!

 

 I just feel calm when I look at my dresser top.. it is clean and spare.

I love peeking into the bathroom as I walk by and seeing  the soft glow…   Seriously it doesn’t take much…

one more view of my flirty skirt….